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INVITATION CUP TRIVIA

By Major Srinivas Nargolkar (Retd.) | 17 Feb 2015 | MUMBAI


Major Srinivas Nargolkar (Retd.)

The first Indian Turf Invitation Cup was run at Mumbai (Bombay in those days) in 1963 and was won by the southern challenger Mount Everest. Since then, another 11 renewals have taken place at Mahalakshmi and they were won by Red Rufus (1966), Loyal Prince (1970), Topmost (1974), Own Opinion (1979), Charon (1984), Exhilaration (1989), Super Brave (1994), Running Flame (1999), Simply Supreme (2004), Becket (2010) and Moonlight Romance (2011).

Till 2012, the race was restricted to 4YOs. Now that it has been opened to older horses, it affords an opportunity for a good horse to win it more than once. It is very likely that the two winners of the open era -- Tintinnabulation and Alaindair -- will both be running this year.

The 'Super Slam' of Derby Bangalore, Indian Triple Crown and Invitation Cup has been achieved by two horses -- Squanderer (1977) and Smart Chieftan (2000).

Four horses have registered the 'Grand Slam' of Indian Triple Crown and Invitation Cup. They are Red Rufus (1966), Squanderer (1977), Almanac (1982) and Smart Chieftan (2000).

The horses which have bagged the 'Grand Treble' of Derby Bangalore, Indian Derby and Invitation Cup are:-

         Prince Khartoum (1972)

         Commanche (1976)

         Squanderer (1977)

         Manitou (1978)

         Track Lightning (1981)

         Chaitanya Chakram (1987)

         Smart Chieftan (2000)

         Moonlight Romance (2011) -- Only filly to achieve it.

         Alaindair (2014)   

It is well known that Pyare Miya's winning the Indian Derby in 1975 provided the horse with the only win of his career. For Prince Regent (Calcutta, 1967) and Mother's Boy (Chennai, 1968), the Invitation Cuo was their only black-type victory. 

FASTEST TIME - Southern Regent 2.28.01 (Chennai, 2005)             

SLOWEST TIME - Desert Warrior  2.40.9 (Calcutta, 1990)

LONGEST WINNING MARGIN - Southern Emperor won by a distance (Calcutta, 2007)

CLOSEST FINISH - Bangalore 2002. The Pelican, Pleasure Hunt and Royal Gladiator. 1/2, Hd, Nk.

BIGGEST FIELD - 16 runners. Venus de Milo (Bangalore, 1969), Charon (Mumbai, 1984), Amorous Knight (Chennai, 1986) and Alaindair (Hyderabad, 2014)

LONGEST PRICED WINNERS

      On Books - Ministerial, 50/1 (Bangalore, 1997)

      On Tote -    Mother's Boy, Rs. 692 (Chennai, 1968)

      SHORTEST PRICED WINNER - Elusive Pimpernel, 4 to 1 on (Calcutta, 1995)

CENTRE-WISE DISTRIBUTION OF WINNERS

         Mumbai  -   22

         Bangalore - 19

         Calcutta   -   6

         Chennai  -    3

         Hyderabad - 2

FATE OF FAVOURITES. 20 out 52 (38 % approx)

PREVIOUS START WINNERS. 28 out of 52 (54 % approx)

WINNERS WITH PREVIOUS RUN ON SAME TRACK. 19 OUT OF 52 ( 37 % approx)

WINNER WITH PREVIOUS RUN IN INDIAN DERBY. 29 out of 52 (56 % approx)

INDIAN DERBY-INVITATION CUP DOUBLE. 21 out of 52 (40 % approx)

WINNERS WITH NO JOCKEY CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS START. 33 out of 52 (63 % approx)

Six 'got-abroads' -- Venus de Milo, Columbia, Supreme Choice, Zurbaran, Becket and Tintinnabulation -- have won the Invitation Cup.

SIBLINGS. Smart Chieftan and Southern Empire are full-brothers; Adler and Ministerial are  three-parts brothers while Forest Fantasy is a three-parts sister to Southern Regent.

PAST THE POST

The Leader Board.

                Owner - Dr. M.A.M. Ramaswamy (10)

                Trainer - R.R. Byramji (12)

                Jockey - P. Shroff (7)

                Stud -    Poonawalla Farms (14)

                Sire -     Placerville and Razeen (4 each)

                Family - Schiaparelli (5)